In this review, we will be comparing AE507 Mark II and ES35, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Acoustic Energy and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE507 Mark II and Polk ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE507 Mark II | Polk ES35 |
|---|
| Brand | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Dome | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" carbon fibre cone | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-28k Hz | 66-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 6.36kg / 14lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.9" x 19.7" x 4.9"
200.0 x 500.0 x 125.0mm | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE507 Mark II and Polk ES35 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
AE507 Mark II |
Polk ES35 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both AE507 Mark II and ES35 are 2-way speakers.
AE507 Mark IIPolk ES35
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE507 Mark II |
Polk ES35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
6 x 3-inch
|
AE507 Mark II features a 1.1" soft dome Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" carbon fibre cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.6kHz. On the other hand, the ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
AE507 Mark II has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the AE507 Mark II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES35's min frequency of 66Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE507 Mark II and ES35 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AE507 Mark II sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the ES35's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the AE507 Mark II a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
ES35 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas AE507 Mark II has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the ES35.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Polk ES35 Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE507 Mark II's and Polk ES35's external dimensions. AE507 Mark II has external dimensions of 200.0 x 500.0 x 125.0mm (7.9 x 19.7 x 4.9inch) whereas Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch).
AE507 Mark II is 121mm narrower and 29mm less deeper than Polk ES35 but it is also 93mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Polk ES35 needs about 53% more floor or shelf area. Polk ES35 is 29mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. AE507 Mark II is 93mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE507 Mark II is approximately 625.0cm2 / 96.9inch2 and base area of the Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The AE507 Mark II requires 35% less surface area than the ES35 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE507 Mark II weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the AE507 Mark II 7% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how AE507 Mark II and ES35's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
1 x 125 mm
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Base Surface Area |
625cm2
vs
956cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
200mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE507 Mark II |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon fibre cone |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.6kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
200.0mm (7.9") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
| Width |
500.0mm (19.7") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
| Depth |
125.0mm (4.9") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss White,Piano Gloss Black,American Walnut wood veneer |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: AE507 Mark II is the newer design, against a 2021 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | AE507 Mark II digs deeper - 55Hz against 66Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Polk ES35 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES35 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
A AE507 Mark II B Polk ES35
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 66Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.